Crutch.



S. J. TRASK.

GRUTGH.

APPLICATION rum) mm: 11, 1910.

. 991,104! PatentedMayZ, 1911.

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CRUTCI-I.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Application filed June 11, 1910. Serial No. 566,333.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. TRASK, citizen of the United States, residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crutches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawm l VIy invention relates to an improved crutch, and I declare that the following is a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof, suflicient to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout.

The invention has to do particularly with an improvement in the construction of the arm-support of a crutch, which is mounted to swing on the crutch head with the movements of the body and is supported thereon in ball-bearings, the entire device comprising certain improvements.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, parts being broken away, of the upper end of a crutch; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the upper members, on the line 00-50 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a view of a crutch with the improvement applied thereto.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it. will be understood that the crutch is made up of the two leg members 1, 1, united at the bottom, as seen at 2, having the handle 3 and the top 4 of given curvature which receives the ends of the leg portions and in ordinary usage supports the body at the armpits.

The top 4 is provided with a run-way frame 8, preferably of metal and of equal curvature of the top piece and held in place by screws 9. This run-way frame extends the major portion of the upper surface of the top. As seen in Fig. 2, this frame has two run-ways, as at 10 and 11, formed to receive anti-friction members, such as the balls 12. This frame has an elevated tongue longitudinally thereof, shown at 14, with out- -ward and opposite flanges. The arm piece 17 is of a form and material adapted to support the body, as will be well understood, and has on the underside thereof a run-way frame 19 which has centrally disposed thereof a longitudinal cutout, as seen at 20, which receives the flange 14 of the lower member, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The lower member being secured into place, the upper Fig. 2, to contact with the anti-friction members, such as the balls 12, the parts being so proportioned as to allow proper play of the arm piece 17, with its frame, on the top piece 4, with its frame, so that as the user swings the supporting top does not wear against the clothing but the wear is taken care of by the play between the arm piece and the top piece.

At 25 and 26 are shown stops which may be in the form of screws secured in the top frame 19 to prevent separation of the parts. Of course, it will be understood that this is merely illustrative of any suitable means for the purpose.

At 30 is shown a screw mounted in the upper run-way frame 19 and projecting into the space between the tongue portion 14 and the corresponding wall of the upper piece. This screw has a suitable member 31 mounted on the end adapted for friction contact against the wall of the tongue 14, the object being to provide means to control and limit the too free movement of the arm piece and to operate as a friction det-ent, the form shown being illustrative of any suitable means.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A crutch having laterally a slidable member mounted on the top thereof for the support of the body, with anti-friction members between the same and the crutch top, substantially as described.

2. A crutch having a slidable member mounted on the top thereof for the support of the body, with anti-friction members between the same and the crutch top, means whereby to limit the freedom of movement of the said member relative to the crutch frame, substantially as described.

3. A crutch having on the top piece thereof a frame with a flange projection longitudinally thereof, an arm piece having a frame with a dovetailed recess longitudinally thereof, anti-friction members disposed between the said members and means to secure the said members from detachment, substantially movement of the said members, substantially as described. as described.

4. A crutch having a supporting member In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my mounted in dovetailed connection with the signature in the presence of two witnesses. crutch top, anti-friction members mounted SAMUEL J. TRASK.

at the point of such connection to form sup- Witnesses: porting contact between the two members, ELEANOR T. DE GIORGI, and friction detent means to control the H. M. CLARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .Eatents, Washington, D. 0. 

